1. Kyoto

  Kyoto (lit. the capital of the capital) was the capital of Japan from 794 (in the reign of Emperor Kanmu) to 1868 (Emperor Meiji or Mutsuhito).  The current population is about 1,463,456 (Kyoto City Census, Feb.1, 2005); 2,645,208 (Kyoto Prefecture Census, Feb.1, 2005).  In spite of numerous wars and fires for more than 1,200 years, Kyoto still keep infinite cultural heritages of Japan.  Due to its historic value, Kyoto was not chosen as a target of U.S. air raids, which severely damaged many major Japanese cities including Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.  However, Kyoto also has an aspect of the modern city now.

  The following description is quoted from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Website:

  Built in A.D. 794 on the model of the capitals of ancient China, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan from its foundation until the middle of the 19th century.  As the centre of Japanese culture for more than 1,000 years, Kyoto illustrates the development of Japanese wooden architecture, particularly religious architecture, and the art of Japanese gardens, which has influenced landscape gardening the world over.

  For further information of Kyoto's World Cultural Heritage,
    Go to: World Cultural Heritage: Kyoto.
    Go to: World Heritage Cultural Property: Ancient Kyoto.
    Go to: World Heritage Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
  
  

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2. The Kyoto Protocol 1997

  Kyoto has recently become known as the center city of the world-wide environmental issues, especially against the Global Warming.
  Dear American friends, please help to persuade the American government to ratify the treaty even if it might slightly slow down the growth of the American industry which is producing as much as about 40% of the entire world pollution now.  Without America's ratification, we cannot stop the horrible Global Warming which would deadly damage the biogeocenosis and the terrain of the world in the near future:

  The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005.  To mark this date, some Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, as well as institutions and organizations, have planned events and other activities.  In order to assist those who wish to attend or promote their activities, the UNFCCC secretariat has compiled a list of known events and activities.  Japan held a commemorative symposium and global video conference on 16 February 2005 to celebrate the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol.  These events took place in the historic city of Kyoto where the Protocol was originally adopted in 1997. (quoted from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website)

  Go to: the Kyoto Protocol Information and More.
  
  

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3. Ushiwaka-maru/Shana-o/Yoshitsune Minamoto (1159-1189)

  Yoshitsune Minamoto was born slightly before the Heiji War in 1159 when the Minamoto clan (Gen-ji) of Eastern Japan and the Taira clan (Hei-shi) of Western Japan, the two powerful samurai clans related by blood to Tenno, struggled for leadership:, the Taira (Hei-shi) clan won, and his father Yoshitomo, his two oldest brothers and other members of the clan were killed during the war.  Yoshitsune's life was spared by his mother Tokiwa's suppliance to Kiyomori Taira, and put under the care of Kurama-dera, a temple in the northern suburb of Kyoto while Yoritomo, his elder brother born of a different mother, was banished to the Izu Province.  Eventually Yoshitsune and his legendary retainer Musashibo-Benkei were put under the protection of Hidehira Fujiwara, head of the powerful regional Fujiwara family in Hiraizumi.
  In 1180, Yoshitsune heard that Yoritomo, the present head of the Minamoto clan, had raised an army at the request of Prince Mochihito to fight against the Taira clan which had usurped the power of the emperor.  Soon Yoshitsune joined Yoritomo along with his uncle Noriyuri Minamoto and other members of the Minamoto clan that had met never before , in the last of three conflicts between the rival Minamoto and Taira samurai clans in the Gempei Wars.
  Yoshitsune defeated and killed his rival cousin Yoshinaka Minamoto in Awazu of Omi Province [now Otsu, Shiga] in January 1184 and in the next month defeated the Taira clan at Battle of Ichi-no-Tani (now Kobe).  In 1185, Yoshitsune defeated the Taira clan again at Battle of Yashima [now Takamatsu, Kagawa], and conquered them at Battle of Dan-no-Ura (now Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi).  It is doubtlessly Yoshitsune that best conduced to the Minamoto clan's victory.
  After the Gempei Wars, Yoshitsune joined the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa against his brother Yoritomo, but he ended up fleeing for the temporary protection of Hidehira Fujiwara in Hiraizumi again.  Two years after Hidehira's death, however, Yoshitomo was betrayed and killed by Hidehira's son Yasuhira who greatly feared Yoritomo.  Musashibo-Benkei was also killed by Yasuhira's army around here.  Soon Yoritomo's army came to destroy Hiraizumi and the Oshu-Fujiwara family to establish the Kamakura Shogunate in 1192.
  Yoshitsune's tragic life has been treated as a most popular subject in many Japanese folklores.  The various stories of Yoshitsune Minamoto and Musashibo-Benkei have been described in a number of works of Japanese literature for centuries.

To get more information of Yoshitsune,
    1. go to the "Hiraizumi" page.
    2. go to the "Kyoto Central" page.

  
  

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4. References to Kyoto in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake
  
  According to Louis O. Mink's A "Finnegans Wake" Gazetteer (1978), there are some references to Kyoto in Finnegans Wake:
  
  KYOTO (KIOTO).  City, West central Honshu, Jap; for more than 1000 years the residence of the Imperial family; captal of Japan from 794 to 1868.
  
534.02  Kyow!  Tak.
550.28  kiotowing  (Mink 374)
  

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Kurama

Kurama (鞍馬) is located in the north outskirts of Kyoto City. Mt. Kurama (570 meters above sea level) is 12 kilometers due north of Kyoto Imperial Palace. During the Heian Period (794-1192) and the Kamakura Period (1192-1333) in particular, literature and the Buddhist arts flourished on the mountain. "Kurama" is of course named after its famous temple, "Kurama-dera" (鞍馬寺). The most famous story of Kurama is about the young warrior called "Ushiwaka-maru" (牛若丸) or "Shana-o" (遮那王; later known as Yoshitsune Minamoto [源 義経], 1159-1189). When he was a young boy, he took fencing lessons and strategies from the "Tengu" (天狗; the legendary Japanese long-nosed goblins) of Mt. Kurama. The "Tengu" greatly powered up "Ushiwama-maru" for the future battles with the Heike-clan. A number of the historical sites connected with "Ushiwaka-maru" still remain on the mountain.

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(Friday 18 February) The poster of "Welcome to Kurama, the Yoshitsune Country" by Keihan Dentetsu (Keihan Electric Railway Co., Ltd.) featuring the Yoshitsune Minamoto and Musashibo-Benkei silhouettes over the shoji.

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(Friday 18 February) Kurama Station on the Eizan Dentetsu (former Keihan Dentetsu) line. It takes about 30 minutes from Demachiyanagi Station, Kyoto.

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(Friday 18 February) The welcome mask of the "Tengu," Kurama Station.

Kurama Temple

Kurama-san Kurama-dera (鞍馬山 鞍馬寺) or Kurama Temple, founded in A.D.770 as the guardian of the northern quarter of the capital city called "Heian-kyo," is located halfway up the mountain. According to the legend, n the first year of Hoki (宝亀元年 or A.D.770), Gantei (鑑禎), the best pupil of the Great Teacher Ganjin (鑑真), the founder of Toshodai-ji Temple (唐招提寺) of Nara, had a revelation in a dream to be guided by a horse. His white horse took him to the foot of this mountain. Thus he climbed up to the holy place where he was attacked by a demoness and rescued by the avatar of "Bishamon-ten[no]" (the Buddhist God of Treasure, and Protector of the North Quarter of the Buddhist Heaven and Spirit of the Sun; Skt. Vaisravans). He believed that it was the divine will to make a thatched cottage to worship the "Bishamonten." In 796 (Enryaku 15), Isendo Fujiwara, the commissioner of constructing temples, also had a revelation in a dream to ride a white horse to go as the horse guided, and found Gantei's cottage here. Isendo first wished to build a temple for worshipping "Kanzenon" Bodhisattva (Skt. Avalokitesvara; Ch. Kuan Yin) he deeply believed. Then he had another revelation in a dream that "Bishamonten" is fundamentally one with "Kanzenon." Thus he remodeled the cottage into a temple named "Kurama-dera" (literally meaning the temple of the vaulting horse). After the transfer the capital, in fact, Kurama Temple has been having the official role of guarding the north by enshrining "Bishamon-ten," the Protector of the North Quarter. Thus, many samurai including Yoritomo Minamoto, Shingen Takeda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, his son Hideyori Toyotomi, and even Ieyasu Tokugawa, prayed at this temple offering some donation and dedication, "May Fortune ever smile on my arms!" "Bishamon-ten" was the Japanese God of War enshrined all over Japan, and there were so many armed monk soldiers belonged to each temple from the late Heian Period till the Momoyama Period (between the late eleventh century and the late sixteenth century). Such armed monk soldiers often fought with samurai. The old buildings, however, were repeatedly destroyed by fire. The present Main Hall was built in 1971. The temple formerly belonged to the Tendai [Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji] sect of Buddhism. Enryaku-ji Temple, the most influential temple of the Japanese Buddhist history, is very close to Kurama. However, since 1949, it has become the headquarters of the newly-founded "Kurama-Kokyo" sect.

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(Friday 18 February) The stairway to the "Nio-mon" (the Deva Gate), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) The Nio-mon Gate, Kurama Temple. "Nio" are the two Deva kings; the guardian gods of a temple gate.

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(Friday 18 February) "Jikokuten" (Skt. Dhrtarastra; the Guardian of the East), in the east (right) side of the Nio-mon Gate, Kurama-dera

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(Friday 18 February) "Komokuten" (Skt. Virupaksa; the Guardian of the West), in the west (right) side of the Nio-mon Gate, Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) Nio-mon Gate viewed from the inside of Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) The stairway to Kiichi-Hogen-sha Shrine and Yuki-jinjya Shrine, etc.

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(Friday 18 February) Kiichi-Hogen-sha Shrine, Kurama Temple. Kiichi-Hogen was the Onyo-shi (the fortune-teller) and martial art master who taught strategies to Ushiwaka-maru. Many people visit this shrine wishing for improvement in the martial arts. "Kiichi Hogen" literally means "Priest the First Demon."

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(Friday 18 February) Kiichi-Hogen-sha Shrine, Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) Kiichi-Hogen-sha Shrine, Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) Yuki-jinjya Shrine. Although it is in the site of Kurama Temple, Yuki-jinjya Shrine was founded as the Chinjyu-sha, the temple shrine of a tutelary deity from the Palace in 940. They enshrine "Yugi," the holy quiver.

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(Friday 18 February) "Ninai-den" (or "Warihai-den") of Yuki-jinjya Shrine, which was rebuilt by Hideyori Toyotomi in the early seventeenth century.

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(Friday 18 February) "Yoshitsune Kuyo-to" (the tower erected for the repose of Yoshitsune Minamoto) near Yuki-jinjya Shrine. When Yoshitsune stayed at this temple from 1165 to 1174, he lived in the house called Tokobo. On the opposite side, Kawakami-jizo-do Shrine stands. Kawakami-jizo was Yoshitsune's guardian angel.

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(Friday 18 February) "Yoshitsune Kuyo-to" (the tower erected for the repose of Yoshitsune Minamoto) near Yuki-jinjya Shrine

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(Friday 18 February) Chumon Gate, Kurama-dera Temple. It was originally located by the side of "Nio-mon" Gate for an Imperial messenger.

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(Friday 18 February) "Kurama no Tsudura-ori to iu Michi" (鞍馬の九十九折といふ道; the winding path to the Main Hall of Kurama) where Seishonagon (清少納言), an eminent female essayist mentioned in Makura-no-soshi (『枕草子』; The Pillow Book, c.1000): Things that are distant though near Festivals celebrated near the Palace. Relations between brothers, sisters and other members of a family who do not love each other. The zigzag path leading up to the temple [Main Hall] at Kurama. The last day of the Twelfth Month and the first of the First. Things that are near though distant Paradise. The course of a boat. Relations between a man and a woman. (trans. Ivan Morris) "Tsudura-ori (no michi)" literally means "(the path of) ninety-nine zigzags."

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(Friday 18 February) "Kurama no Tsudura-ori to iu Michi" (the winding path to the Main Hall of Kurama), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Kongosho" (the Vajra [Skt. Thunderbolt] Floor) in front of the "Hon-den" (Main Hall), Kurama-dera Temple. It symbolizes the idea of Mt, Kurama that the human being who has the power of the universe in his bowels can concorporate the Universe.

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(Friday 18 February) "Hon-den Kon-do" (Main Hall) of Kurama-dera Temple. They enshrine "Senjyu-Kannon-Bosatsu" (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy [Skt. Avalokitesvara; Ch. Kuwan Yin, Kwan Yin] with a thousand hands), "Bishamon-Tenno" (the Buddhist God of Treasure and Protector of the North Quarter of the Buddhist Heaven and Spirit of the Sun; Skt. Vaisravans) and "Goho-Mao-zon" (The Dark One of the Defense).

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(Friday 18 February) "Hombo-Kongo-Jyumyo-in" (the office of Kurama Temple)

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(Friday 18 February) The stairway to the "Oku-no-in" (Inner Shrines), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) The stairway to the gate of "Oku-no-in" (Inner Shrines), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Yoshitsune-ko Ikitsugi no Mizu" (the Spring Water Lord Yoshitsune drank at Breather), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Yoshitsune-ko Ikitsugi no Mizu" (the Spring Water Lord Yoshitsune drank at Breather), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) The Byobu-zaka stairway to the Jizo-do Hall ("Byobu-zaka-no-Jizo-do" or "Kodo-no-Jizo-do"), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Se-kurabe-ishi" (the Measuring Stone of Lord Yoshitsune's Height), Kurama Temple. As the legend tells, Lord Yoshitsune measured himself with this stone just before he went to "Oshu Hiraizumi" (now Hiraizumi, Iwate) at the age of 16. It is said that the stone is as tall as Yoshitsune. To measure the height with my eyes, it is about 140 cm high.

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(Friday 18 February) "Se-kurabe-ishi" (the Measuring Stone of Lord Yoshitsune's Height), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Se-kurabe-ishi" (the Measuring Stone of Lord Yoshitsune's Height), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) Fudo-do Hall, Kurama Temple. It enshrines the wooden image of "Fudomyo-o" (Skt. Acalanatha; the God of Fire; the Martial Arts Protector) reportedly carved by St. Saicho (Dengyo-daishi, founder of Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji Temple, 767-822) who had a merciful prayer to establish the Tendai-shu sect of Buddhism.

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(Friday 18 February) Yoshitsune-do Hall located aside of Fudo-do Hall of Kurama Temple. It enshrines It enshrines Lord Yoshitsune as "Shana-o-zon" named after his child name. People believed that the soul of Yoshitsune came back here where he spent his childhood after he died in Hiraizumi, Oshu (Iwate) in 1189.

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(Friday 18 February) Yoshitsune-do Hall located aside of Fudo-do Hall of Kurama Temple. This area was called "Sojo-ga-dani" (the Bishop's Valley), the setting for the Noh song, "Kurama-tengu" in which the great tengu, feeling a sympathy for the boy "Shana-o" (Ushiwaka-maru) in adversity, equipped him with strategies and undertook to patronize him.

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(Friday 18 February) Yoshitsune-do Hall and Fudo-do Hall of Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Ki-no-ne-michi" (the Road of Tree Roots) to Mao-den Hall, Kurama Temple. This curious landscape is due to the very firm ground above the rock bed that includes numerous fossils of corals, crinoid and fusulinidas.

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(Friday 18 February) "Ki-no-ne-michi" (the Road of Tree Roots) to Mao-den Hall, Kurama Temple. This place was called "Iwakura" or "Iwasaka" (both literally "Place of Rocks") which was worshipped by many people including Gantei, the founder of the temple, as the place where the gods descended from the heaven.

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(Friday 18 February) Mao-den (Hall of the Dark Prince), Kurama Temple.

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(Friday 18 February) Mao-den (Hall of the Dark Prince), Kurama Temple

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(Friday 18 February) Mao-den (Hall of the Dark Prince), Kurama Temple

Sanzen-in

Gyo-san Sanzen-in Monzeki Temple (魚山 三千院門跡) is known as Sanzen-in Temple (三千院), which is located on 540 Raigoin-cho, Ohara, Sakyo Ward. It belongs to the Tendai-shu sect of esoteric Buddhism, which was introduced to Japan by the famous priest Saicho (最澄, 767-822), known as "Dengyo-daishi" (伝教大師; lit. the great teacher who propagated the doctrines of Buddhism). The temple was founded by Saicho in 788, and the principal figure is that of Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai [Skt. Bhechadjaguru or the Physician of Souls] with the Light of Lapis Lazuli. "Ojo-Gokuraku-in" (lit. the Hall of Going to Buddhist Paradise), built by Archbishop Eshin-sozu with his nun sister Anyo-ni for the repose of their parents' souls in 986, is the simple hall which can be considered to be the origin of Sanzein-in Temple. Ohara Area, located northwest of Mt. Hiei, has been known as Gyozan [lit. Fish Mountain] for more than one thousand years. It has been revered as the home of Tendai Shomyo (Buddhist hymnal chanting) and a mecca for its followers. Sanzen-in Temple, also called Kajii Monzeki, Nashimoto Monzeki or Enyu-in Monzeki, is one of the five Tendai Monzeki Temples. Monzeki temples are special temples where a "Kozoku" (a member of the royal family) became the chief priest. Historically this temple has had 32 chief priests from the royal family so far.

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(Monday 20 February) Some souvenir shops along the approach to Sanzein-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) Ro-gawa (the River Ro) along the approach to Sanzen-in.

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(Monday 20 February) Map of Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "Goten-mon" (Gate to the Palace [Temple], Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "Kyaku-den" (Reception Hall), Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The Shuheki-en Garden, viewed from "Kyaku-den" (Reception Hall), Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The Shuheki-en Garden, viewed from "Kyaku-den" (Reception Hall), Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "The Shuheki-en Garden, viewed from "Kyaku-den" (Reception Hall), Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The Shuheki-en Garden, viewed from "Kyaku-den" (Reception Hall), Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The Shuheki-en Garden, viewed from "Kyaku-den" (Reception Hall), Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The Yusei-en Garden on the way to Ojo-Gokuraku-in Hall, Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The Yusei-en Garden on the way to Ojo-Gokuraku-in Hall, Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "Shin-den" (The Royal Hall; probably the hall for the member of the royal family), Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The Yusei-en Garden on the way to Ojo-Gokuraku-in Hall, Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) Ojo-Gokuraku-in Hall, Sanzen-in Temple; the existing oldest building established by Archbishop Eshin and his sister nun Anyo-in in 986. Inside the hall are hollowed ceiling and walls, decorated with a depiction of a heavenly garden. It enshrines the image of a sitting Amitabha with kneeling images of Kanzeon Bosatsu (Skt. Avalokitesvara or Kuan Yin) on the right and Seishi Bosatsu (Skt. Mahasthamaprapta or Bodhisattva of Strength & Vigor) on the left.

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(Monday 20 February) Ojo-Gokuraku-in Hall and the moss garden, Sanzen-in Temple. As you see, moss can be a part of the Japanese garden structure. The best time for the moss garden is May to July.

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(Monday 20 February) Ojo-Gokuraku-in Hall and a small shrine, Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) Konjiki Fudo-do Hall, Sanzen-in Temple. This hall was established in 1989 as a place for prayer. It enshrines Konjiki Fudo Myo-o (lit. Golden Immovable King of Light) made by Chisho-daishi (814-891). Fudo Myo-o is the Japanese rendition of the Buddhist deity Acalanatha, the wrathful aspect of the Buddha.

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(Monday 20 February) The red bridge over "Ritsu-gawa" (The River Ritsu), Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "Baitan-ou Sekibutsu" (lit. Stone Buddha as the Old Man Selling Charcoal, 2.2 meters high) along the River Ritsu, Sanzen-in Temple. It reportedly had been an old charcoal man's home. Probably the story is originally derived from "Baitan-okina" ("The Old Charcoal Man") by the Chinese poet "Hakurakuten" (Chui Po or Lo-tien Pai, 772-846). Ohara had been famous for charcoal making.

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(Monday 20 February) "Ritsu-gawa" (the River Ritsu), Sanzen-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "Kannon-do" (Hall of Avalokitesvara or Kuan Yin), Sanzen-in Temple. This hall houses a 3-meter-tall golden figure of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. On both sides of the Kannon image, there are smaller images of Kannon, which were dedicated from people whose wishes were granted.

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(Monday 20 February) The stone garden next to "Kannon-do," which was designed to replicate the sacred ground with 25 images of Avalokitesvara Boddhisattva.

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(Monday 20 February) Kyobi-jaya" (traditional Japanese restaurant specialized in tofu [bean curds] and yuba [dried bean curds] dishes) in front of Sanzen-in

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(Monday 20 February) "Oharame-teishoku" (plate meal named "Women from Ohara"), Kyobi-jaya in front of Sanzen-in Temple

Jyakko-in

Seikozan-Gyokusen-ji Jakko-in Temple (清香山 玉泉寺 寂光院) or Seikozan-Gokankyogosho-Ohara-gu-Jyakko-in Temple (清香山 御閑居御所 大原宮 寂光院), 676 Ohara-Kusao-cho, Sakyo Ward, was founded by Shotoku-taishi (Prince Regent Shotoku, 574-642) in 594, as a place to pray for the repose of his father, Emperor Yomei (?-587; r.585-587). The first head priestess of the temple was Tamateru-hime, Shotoku-taishi's wet nurse and one of the first three nuns in the history of Japanese Buddhism. She became a nun in 548 and called herself Priestess Keizen. Since then, Jakko-in Temple has chosen nuns from noble families as the head priestesses. Later it became a convent of the Tendai-shu sect of Buddhism. Awano-naiji, the daughter of Shinzei Fujiwara, succeeded her as the second head priestess of the temple. She was an attendant at court and was favored by Emperor Sutoku (1119-1164; r.1123-1141). After War of Hogen in 1156 when the ex-Emperor Sutoku's army was defeated by Emperor Goshirakawa's army, the ex-Emperor Sutoku was exiled to Sanuki (now Kagawa) and died there in 1164, Awano-naiji became a nun and entered this temple in 1165. She was called Priestess Shodo. At the Imperial Palace, she served Kenreimon-in (1155-1213). She is said to be the model for the Oharame, female peddlers carrying flowers on their heads in the streets of Kyoto. Kenreimon-in Tokuko (建礼門院 徳子) followed the Priestess Shodo as the third head priestess. She was the daughter of Kiyomori Taira (1118-1181), the wife of Emperor Takakura (1161-1181; r.1168-1180) and mother of Emperor Antoku (1178-1185; r.1180-1185). She entered the temple in September 1185 soon after the Heishi [Heike or Taira] family's fall. She was called Priestess Shinnyo-do. She spent the rest of her life praying to the Buddha for the repose of her son, Emperor Antoku and the Heishi family who had collapsed in Dannoura (the Kanmon channel between Yamaguchi and Fukuoka) after being beaten by the Genji family in the Gempei War. The principal image of the temple is a statue of the Jizo Bodhisattva, which is said to have been created by Shotoku-taishi. The statue was severely damaged by a fire on May 9, 2000. The Jizo Bidhisattva statue on view in the main hall is a replica made by Bijyutsu-in, an incorporated foundation. The original statue is housed in the repository of the temple.

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(Monday 20 February) A view on the way to Jakko-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "Oboro no Shimizu" (朧の清水; Spring of the Hazy Moon) on the way to Jakko-in Temple. As Heike Monogatari (The Tale of the Heike [Taira] Clan, between 1219-1243) tells, Kenreimon-in Tokuko reflected herself in this spring under the hazy moon. Although the word "Oboro no Shimizu" does not appear on the text, it became a famous "makura-kotoba" (lit. a pillow word; a set epithet) for later poets.

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(Monday 20 February) "Oboro no Shimizu" (Spring of the Hazy Moon) on the way to Jakko-in Temple. As Heike Monogatari (The Tale of the Heike [Taira] Clan, between 1219-1243) tells, Kenreimon-in Tokuko reflected herself in this spring under the hazy moon. Although the word "Oboro no Shimizu" does not appear on the text, it became a famous "makura-kotoba" (lit. a pillow word; a set epithet) for later poets.

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(Monday 20 February) "San-do" (Stone-Step Approach to the main hall), Jakko-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "San-do" (Stone-Step Approach to the main hall), Jakko-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "San-mon" (Temple Gate), Jyakko-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "San-do" (Stone-Step Approach to the main hall), viewed from the top of the approach of Jakko-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) "Hon-do" (Main Hall), Jyakko-in Temple: It was reconstructed after the fire in 2000. The principal image of the temple is a statue of the Jizo Bodhisattva, which is said to have been created by Shotoku-taishi. The statue was severely damaged by a fire on May 9, 2000. The Jizo Bidhisattva statue on view in the main hall is a replica made by Bijyutsu-in, an incorporated foundation. The original statue is housed in the repository of the temple.

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(Monday 20 February) The garden of Jyakko-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The garden of Jyakko-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The entrance to the graveyard of Kenreimon-in Tokuko, Jyakko-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The Approach to the graveyard of Kenreimon-in Tokuko, Jyakko-in Temple

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(Monday 20 February) The graveyard of Kenreimon-in Tokuko, Jyakko-in Temple. R.I.P.

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(Monday 20 February) The graveyard of Kenreimon-in Tokuko, Jyakko-in Temple. R.I.P.

Kamo River

The Kamo-gawa River (賀茂川) runs in the eastern part of Kyoto City. The 31-km-long river is an affluent of the Yodo-gawa River (淀川). The source is in the mountain of Kumogahata, Kita Ward (北区雲ヶ畑), where people had believed there is a big cave in which a goblin lives. It meets The Takano-gawa River (高野川) the point where the river is renamed the Kamo-gawa River (鴨川) and runs south until it meets the Katsura-gawa River (桂川).

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(Monday 5 March) The Kamo-gawa River (加茂川), viewed from the "Miso-no-bashi" Bridge (御薗橋), Kamigamo (上賀茂).

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(Monday 5 March) The Kamo-gawa River (加茂川), viewed from the "Miso-no-bashi" Bridge (御薗橋), Kamigamo (上賀茂).

Kamigamo-jinjya

Kamogamo-jinjya Shrine (上賀茂神社) or formally called "Komo-wake-Ikazuchi-Jinjya (賀茂別雷神社) is located 339 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto City (京都市北区上賀茂歩本山339). It is the oldest Shinto shrine in the ancient city Kyoto. Since prehistoric times Kamigamo-jinjya has preserved and transmitted the legends relating to the birth of the shrine deity, Wakeikazuchi (別雷神; the distinctive god of thunder). Ancient rituals have transmitted faith in the divine mountain for a long time. The Kamo-sai (賀茂祭; Kamo Festival), also known as the Aoi-matsuri (葵祭) started in AD 544 during the reign of Emperor Kinmei (欽明天皇; r. AD539-571). The shrine buildings retain the style of the early Heian Period. All of such things have conveyed the history of the Yamashiro Province (山城国) in the southern Kyoto Prefecture. Most of the shrine complex (690,000 sq m in total) has been designated as a Preservation Area of Historic Landscape by the municipal government and as a Historic Site by the national government. The area contains many large trees such as "ichii-no-ki" (イチイの木: the Japanese yew tree), suda chinquapins (ブナ) and weeping cherry trees (枝垂桜). Here, nature and cultural properties coexist in harmony. On December 17, 1994, Kamigamo-jinjya was officially registered as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in recognition of its importance as a monument of the ancient Kyoto. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.)

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(Monday 5 March) Signpost of Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Ichi-no-Torii"(一ノ鳥居; the First Shrine Gate), Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Gehei-den" (外幣殿), Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Nara-no-ogawa" (ならの小川; the Nara Rivulet), Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine. Its source is at the foot of Mt. Koyama (神山) the sacred mountain. It is famous for Ietaka Fujiwara (藤原家隆, 1158-1237)'s tanka poem collected in the Ogura Hyakunin-isshu (『小倉百人一首』: the Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets Collected at the Ogura Hill): Kaze Soyogu (風そよぐ) Nara no Ogawa no (ならの小川の) Yugure wa (夕ぐれは) Misogi zo Natsu no (みそぎぞ夏の) Shirushi narikeru (しるしなりける) (The wind blows gently Over the Nara Rivulet In the evening. The Shinto purification is performed As if it were a sign of summer.) (trans. Eishiro Ito)

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(Monday 5 March) "Nara-no-ogawa" (the Nara Rivulet), Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Ni-no-Torii" (二ノ鳥居; the Second Shrine Gate), Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The "Hoso-dono" (細殿; the Narrow Hall) and the "Tate-suna" (立砂; the sand stone having purificatory powers), inside of the Second Shrine Gate, Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The upper stream of the Nara Rivulet, inside of the Second Shrine Gate, Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The "Ro-mon" Gate (楼門; the two-storied gate), Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The "Ro-mon" Gate (the two-storied gate), Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The "Ro-mon" Gate and the "Tama-hashi" (玉橋; the Tama Bridge), Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The Tanao-sha Hall (棚尾社; the Shrine Hall of the Houses or the Entrance Halls), inside of the "Ro-mon" Gate, Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine

Shimogamo-jinjya

Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine (下鴨神社) and Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the same woods called "Tadasu-no-Mori" (糺の森). Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine is formerly called "Kamomioya-jinjya" Shrine (賀茂御祖神社). It is on 59 Shimogamo Izumikawa-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto (京都市左京区下鴨泉川町59). The shrine was founded in the 6th year of Emperor Temmu (天武天皇)'s reign or AD. 677. It enshrines Kamo-Taketsunomi-no-mikoto (賀茂建角身命) and Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto (玉依媛命). The son of Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto is enshrined in Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine (上賀茂神社; see above). In the 9th year of Chogen (長元) or AD. 1036, the removal of the shrine in every 21 years was enaced by the government. The present shrine buildings were made during the Edo Period. Since the transfer of the capital to Kyoto in the 13th year of Enryaku (延暦) or AD. 794, this shrine was entitled "Kamo-kodaishin-gu" Shrine (賀茂皇大神宮) and had the great role as the guardian shrine of the Imperial family and also as the head shrine of more than 1,300 branch shrines over the country. Thus this shrine has been worshipped by successive emperors, court nobles (公家) and many people. On May 15 the Kamo-sai (賀茂祭) Festival or the Aoi-matsuri (葵祭) is held in combination with Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine. the festival was described in The Tale of Genji (『源氏物語』) written by Lady Murasaki (紫式部) in about AD 1000.

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(Monday 5 March) "Tadasu-no-Mori" with the background of Kawai-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Semi-no-Ogawa " (瀬見の小川), "Tadasu-no-Mori," referred to in Chomei Kano (鴨長明, ?1155-1216)'s famous tanka poem in Shin-Kokin Waka-shu (The New Collection of Ancient and Modern Verse, 1205): 石川や (Ishikawa ya) 瀬見の小川の (Semi-no-Ogawa no) 清ければ (Kiyokereba) 月も流れを (Tsukimo Nagare wo) たづねてやすむ (Tadunete Yasumu) (As, from its headstream of the Kamo River,* The Semi Stream runs So transparently and so translucently, The moonlight also comes here And rests on the water.) (trans. Eishiro Ito) *The Kamo River had been called "Ishikawa no Semi no Ogawa" (石川の瀬見の小川).

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(Monday 5 March) "Semi-no-Ogawa," "Tadasu-no-Mori," Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine: Or in front of Kawai-jinjya Shrine (河合神社).

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(Monday 5 March) "Torii" (the Red Shrine Gate) of Kawai-jinjya Shrine (河合神社) in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Mai-dono" (舞殿; the Sacred Dance Hall), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Chozu-bachi" (手水鉢; washbasin), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Hon-den" (本殿), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) Kifune-jinjya Shrine Hall (貴布禰神社) enshrining Takaoka-no-kami (高蘢神; God of water), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) Tobe-no-yashiro Hall (任部社; its old name, "Tome-no-yashiro [専女社]) enshrining "Yatagarasu-no-mikoto" (八咫烏命; the guardian god of the Japan Football Association [日本サッカー協会]), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Mutsu-yashiro" Hall (六社; The Six Shrine Halls), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine. The building include (from the left): Suwa-sha Hall (諏訪社), Michi-sha Hall (衢社), Inari-sha Hall (稲荷社), Kamado-no-kami Hall (竈神), In-sha Hall (印社) and Yuki-sha Hall (由木社): All are guardians of food, clothing and shelter [housing] (衣食住の守護神).

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(Monday 5 March) The replica of Chomei Kamono (鴨長明)'s "Hojo" (方丈; the hermitage of 10 feet square), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine. Chomei Kamono wrote his famous diary Hojo-ki (『方丈記』(1212): An Account of My Hut). Surprisingly this tiny building is a house on the knockdown plan or a prefab. He probably got a hint from the building style of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine, which is also removed in every 21 years.

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(Monday 5 March) The replica of Chomei Kamono's "Hojo" (the hermitage of 10 feet square), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The replica of Chomei Kamono's "Hojo" (the hermitage of 10 feet square), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The replica of Chomei Kamono's "Hojo" (the hermitage of 10 feet square), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) Interior of the replica of Chomei Kamono's "Hojo" (the hermitage of 10 feet square), Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) Small wooden seated statue of Chomei Kamono, Kawai-jinjya Shrine in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine. (Courtesy of Kawai-jinjya Shrine)

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(Monday 5 March) "Tadasu-no-Mori" in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Tadasu-no-Mori" in the precincts of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Torii" (the Red Shrine gate), Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Ro-mon" Gate (楼門; the two-storied gate), Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Ro-mon" Gate (the two-storied gate), viewed from the inside, Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Mai-dono" (舞殿; the Sacred Dance Hall), Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The board for putting your bad fortune oracles, Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The Mitarashi-gawa River (御手洗川), inside of the Ro-mon Gate, Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The ume tree favored by the famous painter Korin Ogata (尾形光琳, 1658-1716) in the Edo Period, Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) The ume tree, the red bridge called "Sori-hashi" (輪橋) and the "Ro-mon" gate, Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) A Hall enshrining the God of Water and the Mitarashi-gawa River, Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Hai-den" (拝殿; Worshippers' Hall), Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

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(Monday 5 March) "Nishi-dorii" (西鳥居; the West Red Shrine Gate), Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine

Imamiya-jinjya

Imamiya-jinjya Shrine (今宮神社) known as the shrine of health, is located at 21 Imamiya-cho, Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City (京都市北区紫野今宮町21). Before the foundation of the shrine, there stood "Sessha-Eki-jinjya Shrine (摂社疫神社) enshrining "Susano-ono-mikoto" (素盞嗚尊; 須佐乃袁尊, etc.), a god of epidemics (foundation date unknown). After "Goryoe" (御霊会), the ritual for the spirit of the dead in the Hill of Funaokayama (船岡山, 112 m) [now in Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City] in the 5th year of Shoryaku (正暦5年) or AD 994, Imamiya-jinjya Shrine was built in the present site in the 3rd year of Choho (長保3年) or AD 1001, enshrining "Sanchu-no-kami" (三柱の神; The Three Gods of the Pillars) also known as "Zoka-no-San-shin" (造化の三神; The Three Gods of Creation): "Amenominakanushi-no-kami" (天之御中主神), "Takamimusu-hi-no-kami" (高御産巣日神) and "Kamimusu-hi-no-kami" (神産巣日神) referred to in Kojiki (『古事記』; the Record of Ancient Matters). The Imamiya Festival (今宮祭) is also called "Goryoe" (御霊会) which was forbidden from the end of the Heian Period to the beginning of the Kamakura Period (in the late 12th c. to the early 13th c.). In the 7th year of Koan (弘安7年) or AD 1284, the Imperial Palace conferred the highest rank "Sho-Ichi-i" (正一位) on this shrine. During the Edo Period, it had a stipend of 50 koku in rice. It enshrines three deities: "Ohonamuchi" (大己貴命; later 大国主神), "Kotoshironushi-no-mikoto" (言代主命) and "Kushinadahime-no-mikoto" (奇稲田姫命).

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(Saturday 15 March) "Ro-mon" Gate (楼門), Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) "Kakura-den" Hall (神楽殿; Hall of Sacred Dance), Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hai-den" (拝殿; Worshippers' Hall), Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) The Stone Shrine Gate to other shrines in the precincts of Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) The Stone Approach to other shrines in the precincts of Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) "Tsukiyomi-sha" Shrine (月読社), Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) "Jinushi-Inari-sha" Shrine (地主稲荷社; Jinushi Shrine for the God of Harvest [The Fox Deity]) in the precincts of Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) "Jinushi-Inari-sha" Shrine (地主稲荷社; Jinushi Shrine for the God of Harvest [The Fox Deity]) in the precincts of Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) "Jinushi-Inari-sha" Shrine (地主稲荷社; Jinushi Shrine for the God of Harvest [The Fox Deity]) in the precincts of Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) "Murasakino-Inari-sha" Shrine (紫野稲荷社; Murasakino Shrine for the God of Harvest [The Fox Deity]) in the precincts of Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) Some small shrines in the precincts of Imamiya-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 15 March) "To-mon" Gate (東門; East Gate) built in the Genroku Era (1688-1704), Imamiya-jinjya Shrine. This gate leads you to two traditional sweet shops where you can enjoy "Aburi-mochi" (あぶり餅; small roasted rice cakes on bamboo skewers with sweetened miso sauce) and green tea. See below.

Daitoku-ji Complex

Daitoku-ji Temple (大徳寺) is a huge temple complex. Formerly it is called Ryuho-zan Daitoku-ji Temple (竜宝山 大徳寺) which belongs to the Rinzai-shu sect of Zen Buddhism. It was founded as a hermitage called "Daitoku-an" (大徳庵) made by Myoho Shuho (宗峰 妙超) between 1315-1319. The founder's name is Norimura Akamatsu (赤松 則村). The temple was reconstructed and greatly prospered in the age of Ikkyu-zenji Sojyun (一休 禅師)* in the fifteenth century. In the late sixteenth century and the early seventeenth century Rikyu Senno (千利休) and Enshu Kobori (小堀遠州) secluded themselves in the temple complex. Thus there are numerous precious works of art including Buddhist architectures, dry gardens and pictures on room partitions in the precinct. *Ikkyu-zenji (1394-1481) is said to have been an illegitimate son of Emperor Gokomatsu (後小松天皇; Motohito [幹仁], 1377-1433; r.1382-1412). His pen name was Kyoun (狂雲; literally the Crazy Cloud) and his posthumous name was Sojyun (宗純). He was notorious [well-known] for his eccentricities because he resisted against the corruption of Zen Buddhism in his own ways at that time. He was good at poems, especially at the poetry style called "Kyo-shi" (狂詩; a comic Chinese poetry) and also good at drawings. His poems were collected in Kyoun Shishu (『狂雲詩集』: The Collection of Kyoun's Poerty). He was a legendary wise monk, who has been often described in literature.

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(Tuesday 6 March) The "San-mon" Gate (三門: the Three Gates of Deliverance) or the "Kinmo-kaku" Gate (金毛閣), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was built by Rikyu Senno (千利休). However, he enshrined the wooden statue of his own on the upper floor of the gate, which incurred the most powerful man of the time Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉)'s displeasure. Finally Hideyoshi ordered Rikyu to commit hara-kiri in 1591. "San-mon" literally means the three gates of deliverance: "Ku-mon" (空門; the gate of inanities), "Muso-mon" (無相門; the gate of nothingness) and "Mugan-mon" (無願門; the gate of non-prayers). People believe that they can be delivered from the three karmas only entering through the gate.

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(Tuesday 6 March) The memorial tower for Yasuyori Taira (平 康頼; dates unknown), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. He was an officer in the late Heian Period. He was anointed as a kebiishii (検非違使尉; a police and judicial chief) and called "Taira-Hogan" (平判官). In the 1st year of Jisho (治承) or AD 1177, he got involved in the secret meeting to concoct a plot against Kiyomori Taira (平 清盛; the prime minister then)'s life at Shishigatani (鹿ヶ谷) and was sent to Kikaigashima (鬼界ヶ島) in southern Kyushu with other rebels including the monk Shunkan (俊寛). However, he was liberated next spring and became a bonze. He wrote a book titled Homotsu-shu (「宝物集』: A Collection of Treasures).

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(Tuesday 6 March) "Sentai-Jizo-zuka" (千躰地蔵塚; the barrow of a thousand statues of Jizo [Skt. Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva: the guardian deity of children] statues), Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) "Bustu-den" (仏殿; the Hall of the Buddha), Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) Interior of "Butsu-den" (Hall of the Buddha), Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) "Ryogen-in" Temple (龍源院), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It belongs to the Daitoku-ji-Minami-ha. It was built in 1502 by Yoshimoto Hatakeyama (畠山 義元), Noto (能登; now Ishikawa) and Yoshinaga Otomo (大伴 義長), Kyushu and founded by Soboku Toikei (東渓 宗牧). The temple buildings are the oldest of the whole Daitoku-ji complex. The principal statue, "Honzon Shaka-nyorai-zo" (本尊釈迦如来像) was carved by the priest Gyoshin (行心) in 1250. The temple gardens incorporate many styles.

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(Tuesday 6 March) "Omote-mon" (the Front Gate) with carvings of dragons, Ryogen-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) "Kodatei" (こ沱底) or "Aun-no-Seki-tei" (阿吽の石庭; the Stone Garden of Ahum [alpha and omega; inspiration and expiration), Ryogen-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex.

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(Tuesday 6 March) "Tansetsu-i" (担雪井; the Tansetsu Well), Ryogen-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) "Isshidan" Garden (一枝坦) or the "Hojo-mae-Seki-tei" (方丈前石庭; the stone garden in front of the abbot's chamber), Ryogen-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex.

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(Tuesday 6 March) "Kaido-do" Hall (開祖堂; the Founder [Soboku Tokei]'s Hall), Ryogen-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) the "Ryugin-tei" Garden (竜吟庭), Ryogen-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was designed by Soami (相阿弥, ?-1525) in the late Muromachi Period. This style is called "Shumisan-keishiki-no-Karesansui" (須弥山形式の枯山水; the Zen Buddhist dry garden with the image of Mt. Sumeru).

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(Tuesday 6 March) Inside of the Hojo" (the Abbot's Chamber), Ryogen-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) The Totekiko Garden (東滴壺), Ryogen-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. This garden is the smallest dry garden of Japan with a great fame.

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(Tuesday 6 March) Sangen-in Temple (三玄院), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was founded in the 17th year of Tensho (天正) or in 1589 by Mitsunari Ishida (石田三成, 1560-1600), Yukinaga Asano (浅野幸長, 1576-1613) and Tadamasa Mori (森 忠政; younger brother of Ranmaru Mori) with Shunoku Soen (春屋 宗園) as its first chief priest. The tea room Koan (篁庵), constructed in the 1600's, is well-known as an example of the eight windowed Oribe [古田織部, 1543-1615] style.

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(Tuesday 6 March) The garden of Sangen-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) Front Gate to Hoshun-in Temple (芳春院), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. Hoshun-in Temple was built in 1608 by Hoshunin (芳春院; or まつ; as her secular name Matsu), the wife of the late Toshiie Maeda (前田利家, 1538-1599) of Kaga (加賀; now Ishikawa). The temple was founded by Sohaku Gyokushitu (玉室 宗珀). It is the family temple of the Maeda family. The current buildings were reconstructed in the early years of Meiji (明治) in the late nineteenth century.

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(Tuesday 6 March) Hoshun-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex: the private bamboo line.

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(Tuesday 6 March) The exhibition hall with the tablet "Ichigo Ichie" (一期一会), Hoshun-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. The phrase is a teaching of the Japanese tea ceremony by Soji Yamagami (山上宗二, 1544-1590) who was the high disciple of Rikyu Senno (千利休). It means "Every occasion of extending hospitality to another person is a particular occasion never to recur in one's lifetime (, so one should try to make the occasion perfect)."

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(Tuesday 6 March) Shinjyu-an Temple (真珠庵), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was founded by Ikkyu-zenji Sojyun (一休禅師 宗純, 1394-1481) during the Eikyo era (永享年間; 1429-1441). However, the temple buildings burnt down during the Onin War (応仁の乱, 1467-1477) and was reconstruced in the 3rd year of Entoku (延徳) or AD 1491 by Sorin Owa (尾和 宗臨) the rich merchant of Sakai (堺). The building of the "Hojo" (方丈; the Abbot's Chamber ) was built in the 15th year of Kan-ei (寛永) or AD 1683.

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(Tuesday 6 March) Shinjyu-an Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) Juko-in Temple (聚光院), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was built by Yoshitsugu Miyoshi (三好義継) to repose his father Nagayoshi Miyoshi (三好長慶, 1522-1564)'s soul in the 1st year of Eiroku (永禄) or in AD 1566. Shorei-osho Sokin (笑嶺和尚 宗訴) served as the founder. Shorei was the Zen master of Rikyu Senno (千利休), so this temple became the family temple of "the Three Houses of Sen" (三千家: the Omote-Senke [表千家], the Ura-Senke [裏千家] and the Mushakoji-Senke [武者小路千家]). The temple possesses the wonderful paintings on fusuma [襖: a papered sliding door] by Eitoku Kano (狩野永徳, 1543-1590) and the dry garden called "Hyakuseki-tei" (百積庭) designed by Rikyu.

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(Tuesday 6 March) The outer wall of Juko-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) The bamboo garden behind of Koto-in Temple (高桐院), Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) The bamboo garden behind of Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) The bamboo garden behind of Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Tuesday 6 March) Korin-in Temple (興臨院), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was built during the Taiei era (大永年間; 1521-1528) by Yoshifusa Hatakeyama (畠山 義総), Kaga, and founded by Shokei (小渓 紹(応) [precisely, the upper part of the original Chinese character is 「付」and the lower part is 「心」]; or Bucchi-Daitsu-zenji; 仏智大通禅師). The temple was named after Yoshifusa's posthumous name. Thus it served as the family temple of the Hatakeyama clan. After great fire it was reconstructed in 1533. After the decline of the Hatakeyama clan, it was reconstructed by the new lord of Kaga, Toshiie Maeda (前田利家) during the Tensho era (1573-1592).

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(Tuesday 6 March) Zuiho-in Temple (瑞峯院), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was built by Yoshishige [Sorin] Otomo (大友義鎮 [宗麟]), Kyushu and founded by Sokyu Tesshu (徹岫 宗九) in the 4th year of Tembun (天文) or AD 1535 as the family temple of the Otomo family. However, later, Sorin became a devout believer in Christianity. Anyway, the grave of Sorin and his wife stands in the precinct.

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(Tuesday 6 March) The garden of Zuiho-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The Omote-mon Gate, Koto-in Temple (高桐院), Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was built by Sansai [Tadaoki] Hosokawa (細川 [忠興] 三斎, 1563-1645) and founded by Shoso Gyokuho (玉甫 紹綜; uncle of Sansai) in 1601. It serves as the family temple of the Hosokawa clan. The private grave of Izumo-no-Okuni (出雲の阿国, dates unknown), the founder of the kabuki performance, is here.

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(Friday 9 March) The crest of the Hosokawa family on the roof, Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The gracious bamboo approach to Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) Me at the bamboo approach to Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The simple and fine garden gate, Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) Inside of the Kyaku-den (客殿; the guest room), Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) A potted plant in the Kyaku-den (the guest room), Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The Nan-tei (南庭; the South Garden) and the Kyaku-den (the guest room), Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The Nan-tei (the South Garden) and the Kyaku-den (the guest room), Daitoku-ji Temple complex<

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(Friday 9 March) The buried tiles and pieces of wood charcoal in the Nan-tei Garden of Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. These guard the wooden building from insect plague.

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(Friday 9 March) The Nan-tei (the South Garden), Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The hanging scroll saying, "Ittei San Ko Yu" (「一啼山更幽」;「一鳥啼きて山更に幽なり」; "One bird note makes the mountain more quiet"), the Kyaku-den, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It is alluded to the early 6th-century Chinese Poet Wang Ji (王籍; Jap. pron. Ozeki)'s poem "Entering Ruoye Valley" (「入若耶渓」). Later, another Chinese poet Wang Anshi (王安石, 1021-1089) made a poem called "Zhong-shan" (「鐘山」) in which he wrote (「一鳥不啼山更幽 」;「一鳥啼かず山更に幽なり」: "The mountain becomes more quiet as not a single bird cries). It has been discussed for a millennium that which phrase is better, Wang Ji's or Wang Anshi's. It has the same meaning of Basho Matsuo (松尾芭蕉, 1644-1694)'s famous haiku, poem: 古池や (Furuike ya) 蛙飛び込む (Kawazu Tobikomu) 水の音 (Mizu no Oto) (Into the old pond A frog jumps and wakes The sound of silent water.) Basho made another haiku poem alluded to either Wang Ji's or Wang Anshi's at Risshaku-ji Temple (立石寺), Yamagata in 1689 : 静けさや (Shizukesa ya) 岩にしみいる (Iwa ni Shimiiru) 蝉の声 (Semi no Koe) (In the silence of a mountain temple, A cicada singing alone Penetrates into rocks.) See the Yamadera, Yamagata page. (Interpreted by Eishiro Ito.)

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(Friday 9 March) The crest of the Toyotomi family, Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) An old well covered by the bamboo lid, Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The grave lantern of Tadaoki Hosokawa's wife Tama (玉), known as her Catholic name Gratia (細川ガラシャ; 1563-1600), Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. Born as the daughter of the famous traitor Mitsuhide Akechi (明智光秀, 1528?-1582), Gratia was baptized in Osaka while her husband was gone for the battlefield in Kyushu in 1587, five years after her father's treason against Nobunaga Oda (織田 信長, 1534-1582) in 1582. On the occasion of Mitsunari Ishida (石田三成) rasing an army against Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康) in 1600, she refused to become Mitsunari's hostage and committed suicide for her husband, who, thanks to his wife's tragic decision, could fight against Ishida's army with Ieyasu's army at Battle of Sekigahara (関ヶ原の戦い) in 1600. The Hosokawa family kept their dominion in Kumamoto until the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1867.

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(Friday 9 March) The grave lantern of Tadaoki Hosokawa's wife Tama, known as her Catholic name Gratia, Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. The lantern was originally kept by Rikyu Senno (千利休) as his private treasure. However, both Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Tadaoki Hosokawa, hearing the fame of the lantern, desired it at the same time. After a long consideration, Rikyu intentionally broke one edge of the lantern to refuse Hideyoshi's wish. Rikyu insisted that the broken lantern was not worth offering to Hideyoshi the most powerful man of the time. On the hara-kiri, Rikyu left a note in which he told that he wanted to donate the lantern to Tadaoki, not Hideyoshi. Later Tadaoki also broke it a little more deliberately. Thus it is called "Kake-toro" (the Broken Lantern).

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(Friday 9 March) The stone crest of the Hosokawa family on the grave of Gratia, Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The stone crest of the Toyotomi family on the grave of Gratia, Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The grave of Tadaoki Hosokawa (1563-1645), Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The grave stones of the successive lords of the Hosokawa clan, Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) A scapulary-styled water purifier (袈裟形のおりつくばい), Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was originally from the foundation stone of the Front Gate of the Korean Royal Castle (朝鮮王城羅生門) presented by Kiyomasa Kato (加藤清正, 1562-1611). Tadaoki loved this very much and made it bring with his procession whenever going to a daimyo's alternate-year residence in Edo [now Tokyo].

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(Friday 9 March) The drawing room "Shoin Ihoku-ken" (書院 意北軒), Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was originally a part of Rikyu Senno's residence and moved here in the 7th year of Keicho (慶長) or AD 1602.

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(Friday 9 March) The drawing room "Shoin Ihoku-ken," Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) The tearoom "Shoko-ken" (松向軒), Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It was built by Tadaoki Hosokawa in the fifth year of Kan-ei (寛永) or AD 1628.

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(Friday 9 March) The tearoom "Shoko-ken," Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. The hanging role (掛け軸) says "Shujinko" (主人公; the head/master/protagonist).

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(Friday 9 March) In the garden of Koto-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Friday 9 March) Soken-in Temple (総見院, founded by Hideyoshi Toyotomi [豊臣 秀吉] in 1583), Daitoku-ji Temple complex: usually not open to public

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(Friday 9 March) Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex. It is the family temple for the Oda family (織田家). Thus Nobunaga Oda (織田 信長, 1534-1582) rests here in peace.

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(Saturday12 March) Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) San-mon Gate (山門) to Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Inner gate to Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) "Chasen-duka" (茶筅塚; tea whisk monument), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Hon-do (本堂; main hall), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Belfry (鐘楼) of Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Ho-an" (ほう庵), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Ho-an" (ほう庵), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Ho-an" (ほう庵), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Ho-an" (ほう庵), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Ho-an" (ほう庵), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Ho-an" (ほう庵), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Ho-an" (ほう庵), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Ho-an" (ほう庵), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Ho-an" (ほう庵), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Koun-ken" (香雲軒), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Koun-ken" (香雲軒), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The teahouse "Koun-ken" (香雲軒), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The old well called "Horinuki-ido" (掘り抜き井戸) made of the stone Kiyomasa Kato (加藤 清正) brought from Korea, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) The old well called "Horinuki-ido" (掘り抜き井戸) made of the stone Kiyomasa Kato (加藤 清正) brought from Korea, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉)'s faborite tree called "Wabisuke-tsubaki" (侘助椿), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉)'s favorite tree called "Wabisuke-tsubaki" (侘助椿), Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Information board of Nobunaga Oda (織田 信長)'s family gravestones, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Nobunaga Oda's family gravestones, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Nobunaga Oda's family gravestones, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Nobunaga Oda's family gravestones, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Nobunaga Oda's family gravestones, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Nobunaga Oda's family gravestones, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Nobunaga Oda's family gravestones, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) Fake wooden cats on Nobunaga Oda's family gravestones, Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

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(Saturday12 March) A real cat living in Soken-in Temple, Daitoku-ji Temple complex

Shisen-do Temple

Shisen-do Temple (詩仙堂) was Jozan Ishikawa (石川 丈山, 1583-1672)'s residence called "Ototsu-ka" (凹凸か) which means a residence built on an uneven ground. It is formerly called Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple (詩仙堂 丈山寺), which is located on 27 Ichijoji Monko-cho Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City (京都市左京区一乗寺門口町27). Precisely, "Shisen-do" is one of the "Ototsu-ka." The name was derived from the "Shisen-no-ma" (詩仙の間; the room with the portraits of the 36 famous ancient Chinese poets. It was Jozan who chose the 36 Chinese poets, with the assistance of Razan Hayashi (林羅山, 1583-1657) who studied Neo-Confucianism (朱子学) from Seika Fujiwara (藤原惺窩, 1561-1619) and founded the "Shoheizaka Gakumon-jo" (昌平坂学問所), the official school established by the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was founded by Jozan Ishikawa in the 18th year of Kan-ei (寛永18年) or AD 1641. It is a branch temple of Soto-shu Dai-hon-zan Eihei-ji Temple (曹洞宗大本山永平寺). Jozan was a retainer of Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康) and also a relative to Masatsuna Matsudaira (松平正綱) and Tadakatsu Honda (本多忠勝). After the second battle of Osaka (大阪夏の陣) in 1615, he retired from the service and studied Neo-Confucianism from Seika Fujiwara in Kyoto. After more than 10 years' service for the lord of the Hiroshima Asano clan (広島浅野公) to earn for his mother, Jozan came back to Kyoto to live near Shokoku-ji Temple (相国寺) in 1636. In 1641 he began to construct the architecture of the Ototsu-ka building and gloried in honorable poverty until his death at the age of 90 in 1672.

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(Thursday 8 March) The simple and decent front gate called "Shoyudo-no-mon" (小有洞の門), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Another simple and decent gate called "Robaikan-no-mon" (老梅関の門), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The Robaikan Gate, viewed from the inside, Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The "Shogetsu-ro" (嘯月楼) and the "Shisen-no-ma" (詩仙の間), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The "Shiraku-so" (至楽巣), the "Shogetsu-ro" (嘯月楼) and the "Shisen-no-ma" (詩仙の間), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Chozu-bachi" (手水鉢; the washbasin), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Inside of the "Shisen-no-ma" (詩仙の間) with three hanging scrolls, Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple. This was used as a study [reading] room. (No photographing the 36 portraits of the 36 famous ancient Chinese poets (漢晋唐宋三十六詩仙) on the upper side of the room.)

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(Thursday 8 March) Inside of the "Shogetsu-ro" (嘯月楼) with the Buddhist altar, Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden viewed from the "Shisen-no-ma" (詩仙の間), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden viewed from the "Shisen-no-ma" (詩仙の間), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden viewed from the "Shisen-no-ma" (詩仙の間), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden viewed from the "Shisen-no-ma" (詩仙の間), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The small waterfall called "Senmo-baku" (洗蒙瀑), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden, Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Jozan's favorite "Sozu" (僧都; 添水) or "Shikaodoshi" (鹿おどし) in the garden of Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple, "Sozu" is a watery instrumental device with a bamboo tube and a paving stone: Running water into the bamboo tube until the tube turns the other way round due to the weight of water and goes back, making a comfortable sound for people when the tip of the bamboo hits the paving stone. It was originally used to scare away the wild beasts and birds from cultivated fields. Later the Japanese garden is often provided with the "Sozu."

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(Thursday 8 March) The north bamboo wall of the garden of Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) In the garden of Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The tower erected for the repose of Jozan Ishikawa's soul, Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) In the garden of Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The bamboo bridge in the garden of Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The meditation hall (坐禅堂) called "Jyuppo-myoho-kaku" (十方明峰閣), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The meditation hall (坐禅堂) called "Jyuppo-myoho-kaku" (十方明峰閣), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The Chozu-bachi (the washbasin), Teahouse "Zangetsu-ken" (残月軒), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Teahouse "Zangetsu-ken" (残月軒), Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A path in the garden of Shisen-do Jozan-ji Temple

Musashi Miyamoto

The Japanese sword saint Musashi Miyamoto (宮本 武蔵) and Hachidai-jinjya Shrine (八大神社)

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(Thursday 8 March) This is "Kyo Rakutohoku no Chi Ichijo Yabu-no-go Sagari-Matsu" (京洛東北の地 一乗寺藪ノ郷下り松) where, as Musashi Miyamoto's authoritative biography Niten-ji (『二天記』, 1776) describes, Miyamoto fought with the group, close to 100 warriors, of the Yoshioka school (吉岡一門) here in 1604. The Yoshioka school was believed to have been the most powerful Samurai school at that time. Miyamoto came here earlier (he is usually a late-comer) and observed them for a while. He suddenly appeared and made introductory remarks following the Samurai manner then. Then, He cut down the leader with one stroke of his sword. The Yoshioka group were stricken by a serious panic with the unexpected incident. They could not stop Miyamoto's continuous attack like a superhuman or a demon. They left to the tender mercy of Miyamoto. After all, Miyamoto survived during the severe battle with nearly-100 warriors and went away. Thus, the Yoshioka school rapidly declined and the Yagyu clan (柳生一族) displaced them. In the middle Heian Period (794-1185), Ichijo-ji Temple (一乗寺), a temple of the Tendai-shu sect (天台宗), stood here with a pine tree with dangling branches (下り松): Thus people gradually came to call this area "Ichijoji Sagari-matsu." The present pine tree is said to be the fourth generation.

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(Thursday 8 March) "Ichijo Yabu-no-go Sagari-Matsu"

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(Thursday 8 March) Ishi-dorii (石鳥居; the Stone Shrine Gate), Hachidai-jinjya Shrine (八大神社)

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hai-den" (拝殿; Worshippers' Hall), Hachidai-jinjya Shrine. In 1604, at the daybreak before the famous battle with nearly 100 samurai warriors of the Yoshioka school, Miyamoto stopped here and once intended to pray for his victory before the desperate battle. But he did not pray here. Later he wrote, "I respect Gods and the Buddha but I never pray to them" (「我れ神仏を尊んで神仏を恃まず」) in the "Dokugyo-do" (「独行道」: the "Self Code").

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(Thursday 8 March) Hall of "Ichijoji-sagari-matsu Koboku" (一条寺下り松古木), Hachidai-jinjya Shrine. In 1604, Musashi Miyamoto fought against the Yoshioka group around the pine tree.

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(Thursday 8 March) The small statue of Musashi Miyamoto, Hachidai-jinjya Shrine

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(Thursday 8 March) The small statue of Musashi Miyamoto, Hachidai-jinjya Shrine

Shugakuin Rikyu

Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa (修学院離宮), originates from a temple called "Shugaku-in" (修学院) that was built in the latter half of the tenth century. The temple was destroyed but the name remained in the village name "Shugakuin-mura" (修学院村) around this place. The Shugakuin Imperial Villa was commissioned on the orders of Retired Emperor Gomizuno-o (後水尾上皇) about 30 years after the construction of the Katsura Imperial Villa. Emperor Gomizuno-o (後水尾天皇; Kotohito [政仁]; 1596-1680; r. 1611-1629) ascended the throne when he was 15 years old and retired 18 years later. The retired Emperor Gomino-o immediately began to search for an appropriate location for his villa and eventually he decided on the location that is home to the present-day Shugakuin Imperial Villa. Construction began in 1655 and was completed in 1659. It is a wonder that such a large-scale mountain villa was built in such a short period of time. When the Shugakuin Imperial Villa was constructed, the tea pavilion was built with the upper and lower areas. Ten years after the construction, a palace was built for Princess Genyo (Akenomiya Teruko; 朱宮 光子), Gomizuno-o's eighth daughter, but after Gomizuno-o's death, she became a Buddhist nun. Her palace was reconstructed as a temple called Rinkyu-ji Temple (林丘寺). In 1884, half of the temple grounds of the temple along with the properties Rakushi-ken (楽只軒) and Kyaku-den (客殿) were transferred to the Imperial Household Agency (宮内庁) and incorporated into the Shugakuin Imperial Villa. In 1964, 80,000 sq. m (approx. 19 acres) of paddy fields and farmland were brought in order to preserve the Villa's scenic beauty in its entirety, which remains intact today. Thus the total area of the Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa is approximately 545,000 sq. m (approx. 133 acres).It is located at the foothills of the Higashiyama mountain chain and boasts both a breathtaking view of Mt. Hiei (比叡山) and the faraway mountains. The sense of closeness and distance in the garden is produced by the harmonization of the panoramic views of mountains and foothills in the background to the garden vista. This contrast is called shakkei (借景; see the Kyoto East page), or the use of natural scenery in creating a serene atmosphere. It is thought that one of the reasons why the Shugakuin Imperial Villa is considered so maginificant is the multiple layers of shakkei. Today, the Shugakuin Villa is composed of three villas situated as different heights. In the lower villa there is the Jugetsu-kan (寿月観). In the middle villa there are the Rakushi-ken (楽只軒) and Kyaku-den (客殿) that were transferred from Rinkyu-ji Temple (林丘寺). In the upper villa centers upon Yokuryuchi (浴龍池), a large pond that was created by damming a mountain stream. Rin-un-tei (隣雲亭), which means "a pavilion adjoining the cloud," is situated at a high elevation in the southeast. On can enjoy the entire view of the pond. Kyuseui-tei (窮邃亭), which means a "distant pavilion," is situated on the islet in the pond. Since the Shugakuin Villa extends up along the foot of the mountain, there is a 40-meter difference in altitude between the lower and upper villas. One can hear the sound of running water anywhere on the villa's grounds. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.)

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(Friday 9 March) "So-mon" Gate (総門; Main Entrance) to the Lower Villa (Shimo-Ocha-ya; 下離宮), Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Miyuki-mon" Gate (御幸門; the Gate Used on the Imperial Visit) with the crest of the flower-shaped rhombus (花菱紋; the crest of Emperor Gomizuno-o), Lower Villa (下離宮), Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Chu-mon" Gate (下御茶屋中門; the second gate with bamboo fence to the teahouse "Jyugetsu-kan"), Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Shimo-Ocha-ya O-koshiyose" (下御茶屋御興寄; the porch of the Lower Villa), Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) Path to Jyugetsu-kan (寿月観と苑池), Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) Path to Jyugetsu-kan (寿月観と苑池), Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) Jyugetsu-kan (寿月観), Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. Jyugetsu-kan was used as the Imperial chamber for the ex-Emperor Gomizuno-o. The original building was once lost, but the exact replica was constructed in the years of Bunsei (文政年間; 1818-1829). This shingle-roofed building has relatively many rooms, and the first, the second, and the third room are laid out in an L-shape. The shoji, the sliding paper screens, are placed in front of each room and the veranda surrounds the rooms. (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) Jyugetsu-kan, Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. Under the south eaves of the first room hangs a tablet, which reads "Jyugetsu-kan," written by the ex-Emperor Gomizuno-o.

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(Friday 9 March) The Third Room of Jyugetsu-kan (寿月観三の間), Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. Adjoining to the third room to the west is a 5-mat room with windows facing toward the pond. It is said that this small room had once belonged to the ex-Emperess consort. This room is equipped with a small recess, an ornamental shelf, and a corner for tea cult. (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) The First Room of Jyugetsu-kan (寿月観一の間), Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. Among the 15 mats of the first room, three of which are raised and framed in the northwest corner that serve as the Emperor's seat. The Emperor's seat is equipped with an ornamental shelf and a tokonoma alcove, a wall-enclosed recessed section. There are four fusumas, the sliding paper doors, between the first and the second room and the drawing of "Three Laughing Sages at Kokei" (「虎渓三笑の水墨画」) on fusumas is said to have been done by the famous painter Ganku (岸駒, 1756-1838). (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) The First Room of Jyugetsu-kan, Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. The two rammas (欄間) in the upper side have the crest of the ex-Emperor Gomizuno-o, "Hanabishi" (花菱; a flower-shaped rhombus). On the four fusumas, the sliding paper doors "Three Laughing Sages at Kokei" (「虎渓三笑の水墨画」) was drawn by Ganku.

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(Friday 9 March) The outer landscape viewed from the Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The outer landscape viewed from the Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The outer landscape viewed from the Lower Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The hinged bamboo door with bamboo fences of the "Omote-mon" Gate (表門; the Front Gate) to the Naka-Ocha-ya (中御茶屋; the Middle Villa), Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A ume tree, Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A ume tree, Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A tree of "Hagaki" (葉書の木), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. As I heard from an official guide of the villa, you can send a leaf with an appropriate postal stamp to somebody through a post office in Kyoto City.

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(Friday 9 March) A tree of "Hagaki" (葉書の木), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Chu-mon," (the Second Gate) of the Middle Villa (中御茶屋中門) with single-roofed eaves with double doors, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Rakushi-ken" (楽只軒), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. Rakushi-ken consists of the first and the second room, which had once served as the primary Ake-no-miya Gosho (the palace for Princess Ake). Facing the south garden lies an extended veranda, which is designed to keep out of the rain and glaring sunlight. The sill between the veranda and the room has three wooden groves for sliding wooden panels and shoji screens. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.)

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(Friday 9 March) "Rakushi-ken" (楽只軒), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Rakushi-ken" (楽只軒), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Take Ama-doi" (竹雨樋; the bamboo gutter ), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Kyaku-den" (客殿; the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. Kyaku-den, the reception hall, once existed at the palace of Tofukumonin (東福門院; the ex-Empress Kazuko [和子]; Hidetada Tokugawa [徳川秀忠]'s daughter, 1607-1678), then moved to existing location after her decease in 1678. This building is ingeniously constructed with the vertical lattice railing under the eaves, three grooves for wooden panels and shoji screens, and the inner tatami veranda surrounded by the outer wooden veranda. In the front garden, a stream runs from the east cascade, while the Catholic lantern and a washbasin accentuate the garden. (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) "Ichi-no-ma" (一の間; the First Room) of the "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. This 12.5-mat room has a tokonoma alcove and an ornamental recess with a shelf on the north side. The Wall of the tokonoma is sprinkled with gold dust in shapes of clouds and decorated with traditional Japanese poems with respective pictures. The bottom of the wall is covered with diamond shape patterns of deep blue and gold, which extend to the sliding doors. Five uneven-sized zelkova boards are dynamically arranged and form the ornamental shelf called the "Shelf of Mist" (霞棚). (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) "Ichi-no-ma" (the First Room) and the corridor, "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Sugido-no-Koi-no-zu" (杉戸の鯉の図; "Carps in nets painted on a wooden panel), "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. The carps painted on the wooden panels facing the garden between the first and the second room are covered with net. It is traditionally said that the net meant to prevent the carps from escaping from the picture to swim in the pond though the night. (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) "Ni-no-ma" (二の間; the Second Room), "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. The 10-mat second room was presumably used as a sleeping quarter, which adjoins to the east of the first room. This room has sliding panels on all four sides, and referring to the paintings done by Hidenobu Kano (狩野 秀信) on each side depicting the landscapes of four seasons, this room is also called the "Shiki-no-ma" (四季の間; the Room of Four Seasons). (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) A room of "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The Front Garden (前庭) of the "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The Front Garden of "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The Front Garden of "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Kirishitan-doro" (キリシタン燈籠; the Catholic Lantern) in the Front Garden of "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The Front Garden of "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A small waterfall in the Front Garden of "Kyaku-den" (the reception hall), Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A gate behind the "Kyaku-den," Middle Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The adjoining plowland, viewed from the passageway from the Middle Villa to the Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The passageway from the Middle Villa to the Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Kami-Ocha-ya Onari-mon" (上御茶屋御成門; the Front Gate to the Upper Villa) with bamboo wall, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A panoramic view from the Onari-mon Gate, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Rin-un-tei" (隣雲亭), viewed from the west bank of the pond, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. Rin-un-tei is a pavilion, constructed as an observatory that stands at the highest point of the Upper Villa. "Senshi-dai" (洗詩台) is located at northern end, then the 6th-mat first room, and the 3-mat second room adjoin to the south. Without any walls, and being surrounded by shoji screens, the rooms are very light and the design of this building is so simple. (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) "Rin-un-tei," viewed from the west bank of the pond, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Rin-un-tei," Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) Interior of "Rin-un-tei," Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The dirt floor embedded with "Hifumi-ishi" (一二三石) or small red and black stones from the Kamo-gawa River (鴨川), "Rin-un-tei," Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A panoramic view from "Rin-un-tei," Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A panoramic view from "Rin-un-tei," Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A panoramic view from "Rin-un-tei," Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A panoramic view from "Rin-un-tei," Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A panoramic view from "Rin-un-tei," Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "O-taki" (雄滝; the He-Falls), Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Kaede-bashi" (楓橋; Bridge of the Maple Tree) leading to "Kyusui-tei" (窮邃亭) in Naka-jima Island (中島), Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa.

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(Friday 9 March) "Kyusui-tei" (窮邃亭) in Naka-jima Island (中島), Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. Kyusui-tei is a pavilion, which stands on a small hill of the island. This is the only building in the Upper and the Lower Villas that still exists since the day of foundation in 1659. This building has ornamental tiles with patterns of chrysanthemum on shingled pyramid roof. (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) "Kyusui-tei" in Naka-jima Island, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Kyusui-tei" in Naka-jima Island, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) The tablet reading "Kyusui-tei" (窮邃亭), "Kyusui-tei" in Naka-jima Island, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Kyusui-tei" in Naka-jima Island, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa. Kyusui-tei is a one-room building with 18 mats. Six of the mats in the northwest corner are raised in an L-shape, surrounded by a frame lacquered in black. (Quoted and edited from the Official Booklet.)

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(Friday 9 March) "Kyusui-tei" in Naka-jima Island, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Miho-jima" (三保島; Miho Island) viewed form "Kyusui-tei," Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) North Bank of the Pond, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Ofune-ya" (御舟屋; Boat House), North Bank, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A panoramic view from West Bank, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A panoramic view from West Bank, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) "Kyusui-tei" and the "Do-bashi" Bridge (土橋) viewed from the dam covered with clipped shrubbery (大刈込), Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

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(Friday 9 March) A roofed bench where Prince and Princess of Wales (Charles and lady Diana) sat together in May 1986, as an official guide explains. Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa.

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(Friday 9 March) A simple bridge made of bamboo and stones, Upper Villa, Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa

Sekizan-Zen-in

Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine (赤山禅院) was founded at the will of Jikaku-dashi En-nin (慈覚大師円仁, 794-864) the third head priest of Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji Temple (比叡山 延暦寺). So this temple/shrine belongs to Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji Temple. It enshrines "Sekizan-myo-jin" (赤山明神), the guardian saint of the Tendai-shu sect, which is also enshrined on the "Omote-ki-mon" (表鬼門; the front demon's gate) of the Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所). It was originally the Chinese "Taizan-fukun" (泰山府君; God of Tai-shan, Shantung Province) from Taoism (道教). "Taizan-fukun" is also known as the deity from which the Chinese principles of Yin and Yang (陰陽道) is descended. This temple precincts are famous for the autumn leaves. The address is Shugaku-in Sekizan-cho Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City (京都市左京区修学院赤山町) and it adjoins to the northern part of Shugakuin Rikyu Imperial Villa (修学院離宮).

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(Friday 9 March) "San-mon" Gate (山門), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) Stone steps to the "Hai-den" (拝殿; Worshippers' Hall), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) "Hai-den" (拝殿; Worshippers' Hall), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) Hall of the "Jizo-son" (地蔵尊; Skt. Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva; the guardian deity of children), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) Hall of "Sekizan-myo-jin" with the big beads called "Shonen-jyu" (正念珠; the Sacred Beads of the True Buddhist Mind), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) Hall of "Fukurokujyushin" (福禄寿神; the God of Wealth and Longevity), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) "Konjin-sha" (金神社; the Hall of the God of Feng-shui [Directions]), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) A temple hall, Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) Statues of "Saiki-Enmei-jizo" (再起延命地蔵; Jizo of Resurrection and Longevity), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) "Hatto" (法堂; the Lecture Hall), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

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(Friday 9 March) "Kan-jyu" (環珠; the Sacred Beads of Return), Sekizan-Zen-in Temple/Shrine

Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple (大虚山 光悦寺) is located in the Hill of Takagamine (鷹ヶ峰): 29 Koetsu-cho, Takagamine, Kita Ward, Kyoto City (京都市北区鷹峯光悦町29). Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康, 1542-1616) gave this land to the celebrated artist/calligrapher Koetsu Hon'ami (本阿弥光悦, 1558-1637) in the 1st year of Genna (元和元年) or AD 1615. Then the Hon'ami family and many craftmen moved here to form an art village. After Koetsu's death, the house turned into a temple of Nichiren-shu sect of Buddhism (日蓮宗) in the 2nd year of Meireki (明暦2年) or AD 1656. There are seven tea rooms in the precinct.

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(Saturday 15 March) The elegant bamboo-fenced stone approach to Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) The elegant bamboo-fenced stone approach to Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "San-mon" Gate (山門) to Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) The elegant bamboo-fenced stone approach to Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) The elegant bamboo-fenced stone approach to Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) The elegant bamboo-fenced stone approach to Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon-do" (本堂), Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon-do" (本堂), Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Kairo" (回廊; the Corridor), Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple. This way leads to the garden.

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(Saturday 15 March) A bamboo door of Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Samba-tei" (三巴亭), a tearoom of Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Samba-tei" (三巴亭), a tearoom of Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Daikyo-an" (大虚庵; the Daikyo Hermitage, rebuilt in 1915) and "Koetsu-gaki" (光悦垣; the Koetsu Bamboo Fence) which is also known as "Neushi-gaki" (臥牛垣; the Lying Ox Fence), Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Koetsu-gaki" (光悦垣; the Koetsu Bamboo Fence) which is also known as "Neushi-gaki" (臥牛垣; the Lying Ox Fence), Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Koetsu-gaki" (光悦垣; the Koetsu Bamboo Fence) which is also known as "Neushi-gaki" (臥牛垣; the Lying Ox Fence), Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Daikyo-an" (大虚庵; the Daikyo Hermitage, rebuilt in 1915) and "Koetsu-gaki" (光悦垣; the Koetsu Bamboo Fence) which is also known as "Neushi-gaki" (臥牛垣; the Lying Ox Fence), Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Daikyo-an" (大虚庵; the Daikyo Hermitage, rebuilt in 1915) and Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Graves of the Hon'ami family, Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon'ami-an" (本阿弥庵; the Hon'ami Hermitage), Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Grave of Koetsu Hon'ami, Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Grave of Koetsu Hon'ami, Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Some grave of Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Some grave of Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) In the garden of Taikyo-zan Koetsu-ji Temple

Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an

Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple (鷹峰山寶樹林源光庵) is located at 47 Kitataakagamine-cho, Takagamine, Kita Ward, Kyoto City (京都市北区鷹峯北鷹峯町47). The temple was founded by Giko Tetsuo (徹翁義享, 1295-1369), a high priest of Daitoku-ji Temple (大徳寺), in the 2nd year of Jowa (貞和2年) or AD 1346. The temple originally belonged to the Rinzai-shu sect of Buddhism but it converted to the Soto-shu sect by Dohaku Manzan (卍山 道白, 1635-1715) in the 7th year of Genroku (元禄7年) or AD 1694. The main hall (本堂) was reconstructed in 1694 using some material from the former Fushimi-jo Castle (伏見城) destroyed in 1600 when Mototada Torii (鳥居元忠, 1539-1600), a faithful retainer of Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川家康), and his soldiers were defeated by Mitsunari Ishida (石田三成, 1560-1600) just before War of Sekigahara (関ヶ原の戦い). The ceiling is called "Chi-Tenjo" (血天井; the Blood Ceiling) moved from Fushimi-jo Castle. There are two famous windows. The round window is called "Satori-no-mado" (悟りの窓: the window of enlightenment) and the cornered window "Mayoi-no-mado" (迷いの窓: the window of illusion).

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(Saturday 15 March) Entrance to Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Chu-mon" Gate (中門) to Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Belfry (鐘楼) of Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "San-mon" Gate (山門) to Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon-do" (本堂) looked through "San-mon" Gate (山門) to Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon-do" (本堂) looked through "San-mon" Gate (山門) to Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon-do" (本堂), Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon-do" (本堂), Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) The round window called "Satori-no-mado" (悟りの窓: the window of enlightenment) and the cornered window "Mayoi-no-mado" (迷いの窓: the window of illusion), "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) The round window called "Satori-no-mado" (悟りの窓: the window of enlightenment) and the cornered window "Mayoi-no-mado" (迷いの窓: the window of illusion), "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Another window of "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) The cornered window "Mayoi-no-mado" (迷いの窓: the window of illusion), "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) the round window "Satori-no-mado" (悟りの窓: the window of enlightenment), "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Garden, viewed from "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Garden, viewed from "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Tablet saying "Mantoku-den" (萬徳殿), "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Aoi" (葵), the crest of the Tokugawa family, "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Aoi" (葵), the crest of the Tokugawa family, "Hon-do," Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) The information board of "Chi-tenjo" (血天井; the Blood Ceiling), Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Chi-Tenjo" (血天井; the Blood Ceiling) of "Hon-do", Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Chi-Tenjo" (血天井; the Blood Ceiling) of "Hon-do", Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Chi-Tenjo" (血天井; the Blood Ceiling) of "Hon-do", Yoho-zan Hojyurin Genko-an Temple

Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple (寂光山 常照寺) is a temple at 1 Takagamine-cho, Takagamine, Kita Ward, Kyoto City (京都市北区鷹峰北鷹峰町1). It was founded as a Buddhist school called "Takagamine Danrin (鷹峰 檀林) in the 2nd year of Genna (元和2年) or AD 1616 by Saint Nikken (日乾 上人, 1560-1635), the restorer of Nichiren-shu sect (日蓮宗) of Buddhism with the land donation by Koetsu Hon'ami (本阿弥 光悦, 1558-1637). The temple is also famous for its intimate relationship with the legendary geisha Yoshino-tayu (吉野太夫; Tokuko Matsuda; 松田 徳子, 1606-1643) of Shimabara (嶋原) or Rokujo-Misuji-machi (六条三筋町). At the age of 26, she was ransomed and became the 2nd wife of Joeki Haiya (灰屋 紹益, 1607-1691), son of Koetsu's nephew Komatsu Hon'ami (本阿弥 光益). She adored Nikken and donated "Shu-mon" (朱門; the Red Gate) to Josho-ji Temple. Later she was buried in the temple. It has an annual flower mass (花供養) for the repose of her soul on the 3rd Sunday of April. She has admired by many geishas for centuries.

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(Saturday 15 March) Entrance to Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Aka-mon" (朱門; the Red Temple Gate) or "Yoshino-mon" Gate (吉野門) donated by Yoshino-tayu, Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Aka-mon" (朱門; the Red Temple Gate) or "Yoshino-mon" Gate (吉野門) donated by Yoshino-tayu, Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Hon-do" (本堂: Main Hal), Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Interior of "Hondo" (本堂: Main Hal), Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Garden of Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Aka-mon" (朱門; the Red Temple Gate) or "Yoshino-mon" Gate (吉野門) donated by Yoshino-tayu, Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Kaisan-byo" (開山廟; the Founder's Mausoleum), Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Hon-do" (本堂: Main Hal), Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Myoho-Ryujin Shrine Hall (妙法龍神社), Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Jyuraku-tei" (聚楽亭; Jyuraku Pavilion), Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Grave of Yoshino-tayu, Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Kaisan-byo" (開山廟; the Founder's Mausoleum), Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) Signpost of "Kuyo-to" (供養塔), the tower erected for the repose of Yoshino-tayu and Joeki Haiya, Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Kuyo-to" (供養塔), the tower erected for the repose of Yoshino-tayu and Joeki Haiya, Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Iho-an" (遺芳庵; Teahouse Iho), Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple

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(Saturday 15 March) "Iho-an" (遺芳庵; Teahouse Iho), Jyakko-zan Josho-ji Temple. This round window is called "Yoshino-mado" (吉野窓; Yoshino's window) as she liked the round window.

Koryo Museum of Art

Koryo Museum of Art (高麗美術館) is located at 15 Shichikukaminokishi-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City (京都市北区紫竹上岸町15番地). It was founded by a Korean Japanese [a Korean living in Japan] Chong Cho-mum (鄭詔文, 1917-1989) on October 25, 1988 after spending forty years to collect Korean stone carvings, images of the Buddha, calligraphic works, furniture, ceramics, etc. Surprisingly every item exhibited here was purchased in Japan. This proves how many things have been imported from the Korean Peninsula. Born in Korea, Chon lived in Japan for 65 years longing for his native land and culture. He was particularly interested in Korean Studies in Japan. This museum proves the deep relationship between Japan and Korea. Their collection includes some rare items that can be hardly found in the present Korea.

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(Saturday 15 March) Koryo Museum of Art, 15 Shichikukaminokishi-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City

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(Saturday 15 March) A Korean stone pagoda, Koryo Museum of Art, 15 Shichikukaminokishi-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City

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(Saturday 15 March) A Korean stone carving, Koryo Museum of Art, 15 Shichikukaminokishi-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City

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(Saturday 15 March) A Korean stone carving, Koryo Museum of Art, 15 Shichikukaminokishi-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City

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(Saturday 15 March) Korean stone carvings, Koryo Museum of Art, 15 Shichikukaminokishi-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City

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(Saturday 15 March) Korean stone carvings, Koryo Museum of Art, 15 Shichikukaminokishi-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City

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(Saturday 15 March) Institute of Koryo Museum of Art (高麗美術館研究所) in the opposite side of the museum

Gombee

The Kitayama branch (北山店) of Gombee (権兵衛), a traditional soba [the Japanese buckwheat noodles] restaurant is located on 43-5 Shimogamo Minamishiba-machi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto (京都市左京区下鴨南芝町43-5). Mr. Ishiguro, a reliable taxi driver, took me here at the end of the three-hour taxi tour.

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(Friday 9 March) Entrance to Gombee the soba restaurant in Kitayama-dori Street

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(Friday 9 March) My lunch: "Kisetsu-no-Soba-to-Gohan" (季節の蕎麦とごはん; the soba and the bowl of broiled eel and rice of the season, 1,300 yen) at Gombee in Kitayama-dori Street

Ramen Hakatakko

"Honkaku Kyushu Ramen Hakatakko" (2-19 Matsunoki-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo Ward) was founded by a Kyushu native ramen master in 1974. As the name indicates, their ramen dishes are in the Kyushu style, that is, "Tonkotsu [lit. pork bone] taste." It is located in front of Bus Stop "Ipponsugi" in Shimogamo-hon-dori Street (in the opposite side of Shimogamo-jinjya Shrine). "Torouma Ramen" noodle soup (since 2003) and "Yasai Ramen" (Vegetarian Ramen) noodle soup are highly recommended!

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(Thursday 16 February) Honkaku Kyushu Ramen Hakatakko," 2-19 Matsunoki-cho, Shimogamo, Sakyo Ward

Imai-shokudo

Imai-shokudo (今井食堂) is located near the Ichi-no-Torii" (the First Shrine Gate) to Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine (上賀茂神社): 2 Misonoguchi-cho, Kamigamo, Kita Ward, Kyoto City (京都市北区上賀茂御薗口町2). It is very famous for gourmets of Class-B food. Most visitors seem to order "Saba-ni-teishoku" (サバ煮定食) is a prix fixe, of boiled mackerel with thick miso sauce assorted with boiled rice, miso soup and pickled vegetables. It costs 630 yen. Highly recommended!!!

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(Saturday 15 March) Imai-shokudo (今井食堂) is located near the Ichi-no-Torii" (the First Shrine Gate) to Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine: 2 Misonoguchi-cho, Kamigamo, Kita Ward, Kyoto City

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(Saturday 15 March) Imai-shokudo (今井食堂) is located near the Ichi-no-Torii" (the First Shrine Gate) to Kamigamo-jinjya Shrine: 2 Misonoguchi-cho, Kamigamo, Kita Ward, Kyoto City

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(Saturday 15 March) Most visitors seem to order this "Saba-ni-teishoku" (サバ煮定食) is a prix fixe, of boiled mackerel with thick miso sauce assorted with boiled rice, miso soup and pickled vegetables. It costs 630 yen. Highly recommended!!! They boil mackerel with their original thick miso sauce for three days before serving.

Ichiwa

In front of "To-mon" Gate (東門; East Gate) of Imamiya-jinjya Shrine, two traditional sweet shops where you can enjoy "Aburi-mochi" (あぶり餅; small roasted rice cakes on bamboo skewers with sweetened miso sauce) and green tea. They are "Ichiwa" (いち和) and "Kazari-ya" (かざりや). Normally after visiting Imamiya-jinjya Shrine and praying for good health, people dropped into either of the two sweet shops and enjoy "Aburi-mochi" and green tea. Highly recommended. I tried "Ichiwa" this time.

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(Saturday 15 March) Ichiwa, the traditional Japanese sweet restaurant

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(Saturday 15 March) Ichiwa, the traditional Japanese sweet restaurant. This lady is in charge of making small dumplings from flour.

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(Saturday 15 March) "Aburi-mochi" and green tea at Ichiwa the traditional Japanese sweet restaurant. This is one of the genuine traditional Kyoto tastes!

Kyoto U of Art & Design

Kyoto University of Art and Design (京都造形芸術大学). The address is 2-116 Kitashirakawa-Uriyuzan, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto (京都市左京区北白川瓜生山 2-116). The nearest station is Chayama (茶山) on Eizan Line. It was first founded as Kyoto Junior College of Art in 1977 and became a four-year college in 1991. It has a sister university in Yamagata called Tohoku University of Art and Design (東北芸術工科大学).

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(Thursday 8 March) The head office called "Ningen-kan," Kyoto University of Art and Design on Shirakawa-dori Street (白川通).

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(Sunday 4 March) With Prof. Masatsune Nakaji (philosophy of religion) at his office, Kyoto University of Art and Design. His research interests are amazingly wide, from Nietzsche, Japanese literature including Kenji Miyazawa and Chieko Yamanaka to Tohoku studies and Kyoto studies. He wrote numerous books on various subjects. Go to his website "nomadologie (in Japanese). "

        

Copyright (c) 2005-2011 Eishiro Ito.  All rights reserved.